HOW DRUGS ENTER THE BODY DRUG ADMINSITRATION HOW DRUGS ENTER THE BODY

INJECTION Intravenously into the veins Intramuscularly into the muscle Subcutaneously under the skin

INGESTION Consuming any liquid or solid through the mouth Eating Drinking

INHALATION Inhaling or breathing a drug directly into the lungs. Smoking Huffing

ABSORPTION Absorbing through the mucus membrane or through the skin. Snorting LSD laced tattoos

DRUG CATEGORIZATION DRUGS AND HOW THEY ACT

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS HALLUCINOGENS DEPRESSANTS STIMULANTS DRUG CATEGORIES NARCOTICS INHALANTS CLUB DRUGS/RAVES CANNABIS SATIVA ANABOLIC STEROIDS

HALLUCINOGENS Hallucinogens and dissociative drugs are both categories of drugs that alter a persons' state of mind and mood. Hallucinogens can cause a person to hallucinate--that is to see, hear, or feel things that aren't actually real. Hallucinogens include LSD, Mescaline (Peyote), Psilocybin, and Psilocyn (Mushrooms). Dissociative drugs, such as Ketamine or PCP, alter a person’s state of mind and mood but do not cause a person to hallucinate. Dissociative drugs cause a person to detach, or dissociate, from his or her surroundings.

DEPRESSANTS Depressants are substances that depress the activity of the central nervous system. Depressants are often referred to as "downers" because of their sedative, hypnotic and tranquilizing effects. There are both legal and illegal depressants. Alcohol is the most common legal depressant. Other depressants that are legal are often prescribed medications used to induce sleep, relieve stress, and subdue anxiety. These prescriptions are often abused as well, such as the case with rohypnol. GHB is an illegal depressant often used in drug-facilitated sexual assaults because of its sedative properties.

STIMULANTS Stimulants are substances that stimulate the activity of the central nervous system. Stimulants are often referred to as "uppers" because they increase or speed up mental and physical processes in the body. There are both legal and illegal stimulants. Those stimulants that are legal include nicotine (found in tobacco products) and caffeine. Stimulants like methylphenidate are prescribed to increase alertness and physical activity. Illegal stimulants include methamphetamine, cocaine and crack.  

NARCOTICS Narcotics are drugs that alleviate physical pain, suppress coughing, alleviate diarrhea, and induce anesthesia. Natural narcotics are derived from the Opium poppy and synthetic narcotics are made to act like the major constituents of Opium (thebaine, morphine, codeine). Legal, synthetic narcotics such as OxyContin (oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone) are prescribed as pain-relievers but are often diverted for illegitimate uses. Heroin is an illegal narcotic, derived from morphine.

CANNABIS Marijuana is the most widely used illegal substance in the world today. Its use is also the most controversial. With legalization efforts underway, it is important to have the facts. Marijuana is made from the plant cannabis sativa, a plant that grows wild (and is also cultivated indoors and out) throughout many regions. Most of the marijuana used in the United States comes from sources in the within the U.S., Mexico.

INHALANTS Inhalants are common household and workplace substances that are sniffed or huffed to give the user an immediate head rush or high. Inhalants are "sniffed" from an open container or "huffed" from a rag soaked in the substance and held to the face. A new trend, "dusting," involves inhaling common computer cleaners (One brand is Dust-Off) - several deaths have occurred.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS Anabolic Steroid abuse has become a national concern. Weight lifters, body builders, long distant runners, cyclists, and others who claim that the drugs give them a competitive advantage and/or improve their physical appearance use these drugs illicitly. Once viewed as a problem associated only with professional athletes, recent reports estimate that 5 to 12 percent of male high school students and 1 percent of female students have used anabolic steroids by the time they were seniors. Concerns over a growing illicit market and prevalence of abuse combined with the possibility of harmful long-term effects of steroid use, led Congress to place anabolic steroids into Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA).

CLUB DRUGS The term “club drugs” has been used in the past to refer to drugs primarily used by young adults at dance clubs and raves.